221g administrative processing after the U.S immigrant visa interview?

[sin_jaz 0]

Hello everyone,

I am fairly new to this website but I figured I better do some research while I'm feeling... well alotta things!

My parents had our immigrant visa interview on Nov. 12th and at the end of the interview as expected we were given the blue sheet (221g). The CO crossed over the whole page where there is a big list of things and documents that could be possibly missing and she mentioned a few times to me that "Everything on your case is here, everything we need, all the documents everything is complete, but we need 8 more weeks to complete processing your case!"... We gave 10 fingerprints each and were told to check for out status on-line and as soon as the number appears we should send our passports to be stamped. My mother was even told she has no problem but it's more about me and my father! (I'm a guy by the way so yea!...)

On Monday January 7th it will be 8 weeks and there is still no words on the website. Now I understand it hasn't been exactly 8 weeks and it is very possible that we won't hear anything until Monday but my question and concern rises when I start to think if taking that long is a bad sign!

Like I mentioned we weren't warned about anything, absolutely nothing; however, my consideration is still there!

Any information, help, explanation, etc... will be greatly appreciated!

Additional Info:

My father's sister is the petitioner (US citizen)

Iranian passports

Abu Dhabi Embassy

[Boiler 43,401]

8 weeks sounds quick, but it will take as long as it takes.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Hello everyone,

I am fairly new to this website but I figured I better do some research while I'm feeling... well alotta things!

My parents had our immigrant visa interview on Nov. 12th and at the end of the interview as expected we were given the blue sheet (221g). The CO crossed over the whole page where there is a big list of things and documents that could be possibly missing and she mentioned a few times to me that "Everything on your case is here, everything we need, all the documents everything is complete, but we need 8 more weeks to complete processing your case!"... We gave 10 fingerprints each and were told to check for out status on-line and as soon as the number appears we should send our passports to be stamped. My mother was even told she has no problem but it's more about me and my father! (I'm a guy by the way so yea!...)

On Monday January 7th it will be 8 weeks and there is still no words on the website. Now I understand it hasn't been exactly 8 weeks and it is very possible that we won't hear anything until Monday but my question and concern rises when I start to think if taking that long is a bad sign!

Like I mentioned we weren't warned about anything, absolutely nothing; however, my consideration is still there!

Any information, help, explanation, etc... will be greatly appreciated!

Additional Info:

My father's sister is the petitioner (US citizen)

Iranian passports

Abu Dhabi Embassy

Wow I was posting a reply in MENA, apparently just as the post was being teleported to another forum... took my reply into cyber-limbo....

Anyway welcome to VJ, sin_jaz !

It sounds like the interview went very well.

It's normal to feel apprehensive when the timeframe given comes and goes with no result. But frankly, the consulates often give an overly optimistic estimate on how long it will take to complete processing. We have seen MANY cases that took muchhhh longer than the timeframe stated at the interview -- some that took a year or more (hopefully, of course, that will not happen with your parents.) But the good news is -- most of these cases eventually come through successfully. So steel yourselves for a long wait -- make sure your parents understand that this *can* take months and months -- but also stay positive and hope for an answer soon. I really don't think you have cause for alarm -- just be patient and understand that the wheels of bureaucracy grind verrrrrrry slowly.

Best of luck for a speedy completion ! (Oh and please don't forget to come update us when you get the good news -- your timeframe may be helpful to other members in the same situation.)

-MK

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

And what was the problem with this post being in MENA ? They processed through the Abu Dhabi consulate....

*shrug*

[Jenn! 918]

Wow I was posting a reply in MENA, apparently just as the post was being teleported to another forum... took my reply into cyber-limbo....

Someone disagreed with my choice of location apparently.

ETA: my feeling is that 221g questions through MENA consulates are more relevant to the MENA forum than any other. They had originally posted in a different forum altogether.

Anyway, 221g for administrative processing/security checks is standard procedure for MENA consulates. Best wishes for a speedy resolution.

Edited January 4, 2008 by Jenn!

[LaL 418]

Wow I was posting a reply in MENA, apparently just as the post was being teleported to another forum... took my reply into cyber-limbo....

Someone disagreed with my choice of location apparently.

ETA: my feeling is that 221g questions through MENA consulates are more relevant to the MENA forum than any other. They had originally posted in a different forum altogether.

Anyway, 221g for administrative processing/security checks is standard procedure for MENA consulates. Best wishes for a speedy resolution.

Eeep - that was me - sorry! I moved it to the 221(g) forum as it specifically discusses this topic and was created to house this specific type of post.

[Jenn! 918]

Wow I was posting a reply in MENA, apparently just as the post was being teleported to another forum... took my reply into cyber-limbo....

Someone disagreed with my choice of location apparently.

ETA: my feeling is that 221g questions through MENA consulates are more relevant to the MENA forum than any other. They had originally posted in a different forum altogether.

Anyway, 221g for administrative processing/security checks is standard procedure for MENA consulates. Best wishes for a speedy resolution.

Eeep - that was me - sorry! I moved it to the 221(g) forum as it specifically discusses this topic and was created to house this specific type of post.

Ok, no probbo. I'm usually hesitant to put 221g for AP in here because there's often confusion, but will do in the future.

[Nutty 2]

Hello everyone,

I am fairly new to this website but I figured I better do some research while I'm feeling... well alotta things!

My parents had our immigrant visa interview on Nov. 12th and at the end of the interview as expected we were given the blue sheet (221g). The CO crossed over the whole page where there is a big list of things and documents that could be possibly missing and she mentioned a few times to me that "Everything on your case is here, everything we need, all the documents everything is complete, but we need 8 more weeks to complete processing your case!"... We gave 10 fingerprints each and were told to check for out status on-line and as soon as the number appears we should send our passports to be stamped. My mother was even told she has no problem but it's more about me and my father! (I'm a guy by the way so yea!...)

On Monday January 7th it will be 8 weeks and there is still no words on the website. Now I understand it hasn't been exactly 8 weeks and it is very possible that we won't hear anything until Monday but my question and concern rises when I start to think if taking that long is a bad sign!

Like I mentioned we weren't warned about anything, absolutely nothing; however, my consideration is still there!

Any information, help, explanation, etc... will be greatly appreciated!

Additional Info:

My father's sister is the petitioner (US citizen)

Iranian passports

Abu Dhabi Embassy

You and I are in the same boat! My husband is also Iranian and had his interview on December 11 at the Abu Dhabi Embassy. He was told that it would be 1 MONTHto have his fingerprints processed.

The Embassy Officer saying THE FINGERPRINTS will take 8 weeks is really not accurate. If you hop around this board to other geographic areas, you will see that many other immigrant applicants get their fingerprints approved on the same day as they were scanned. Sometimes just a few hours after the interview.

More than likely the Embassy sent the Department of State the names of your parents and are running additional clearances. How long this takes is really a ####### shoot. It could be as they sayaround 8 weeks - or - it could be MONTHS!!!

[msjv 0]

I don't know much about where you are from, but in the Dominican Republic it currently takes 3 to 4 months for Administrative Procedure to be completed.

I have a case now where I had an interview and they needed to investigate further. It has been almost 4 months and not word yet. They keep telling us to wait. Horrible!!!!

I'll keep you posted.

Good Luck in your case.

[emt103c 10]

I'm at six months. . .just for document validation. . .Canada to Pakistan to ?????????????

[shel444 0]

WHat website are you checking your AP status on? Thanks! -SHel444

Hello everyone,

I am fairly new to this website but I figured I better do some research while I'm feeling... well alotta things!

My parents had our immigrant visa interview on Nov. 12th and at the end of the interview as expected we were given the blue sheet (221g). The CO crossed over the whole page where there is a big list of things and documents that could be possibly missing and she mentioned a few times to me that "Everything on your case is here, everything we need, all the documents everything is complete, but we need 8 more weeks to complete processing your case!"... We gave 10 fingerprints each and were told to check for out status on-line and as soon as the number appears we should send our passports to be stamped. My mother was even told she has no problem but it's more about me and my father! (I'm a guy by the way so yea!...)

On Monday January 7th it will be 8 weeks and there is still no words on the website. Now I understand it hasn't been exactly 8 weeks and it is very possible that we won't hear anything until Monday but my question and concern rises when I start to think if taking that long is a bad sign!

Like I mentioned we weren't warned about anything, absolutely nothing; however, my consideration is still there!

Any information, help, explanation, etc... will be greatly appreciated!

Additional Info:

My father's sister is the petitioner (US citizen)

Iranian passports

Abu Dhabi Embassy

[LadyJane 1]

You can't check your AP status online, but you can call the state department:

202-663-1225

Press 1 after the first menu is presented, then 0 to talk to an operator. They can not tell you anything beyond a simple yes/no that the case is still pending. As with the NVC and USCIS, calling DoS more often will not expedite the processing.

[AskimZeki 0]

I expected my husband here by Christmas the latest Never heard of going through clearance - Everyone we knew took less than 3 months to enter US. But he had his interview and was told it would be 4-6 weeks - BULL #######! More like 4- 8 months if we are lucky.

WE believe nothing anyone says anymore!

I think I will move to Istanbul first before he is allowed to enter here! .

WE are miserable and the not knowing is so hard on a marriage!

ASkimZEki

[coyote 3]

I expected my husband here by Christmas the latest Never heard of going through clearance - Everyone we knew took less than 3 months to enter US. But he had his interview and was told it would be 4-6 weeks - BULL #######! More like 4- 8 months if we are lucky.

WE believe nothing anyone says anymore!

I think I will move to Istanbul first before he is allowed to enter here! .

WE are miserable and the not knowing is so hard on a marriage!

ASkimZEki

I completely agree. I think we should get together a petition to Hillary Clinton, who is ultimately responsible for this stage of the visa process, or at least in a position to rattle some cages. As far as I know, the acting assistant secretary of state, and head of the Bureau of Consular Affairs is Janice Jacobs, a poorly educated Bush appointee -- the key part of her resume, as far as I'm concerned is the following:

From 1994 to 1995 she attended the National War College at Ft. McNair in Washington D.C., where she received a Master’s in National Security Strategy.

Interesting that she managed to take a paid leave of absence to be with HER husband when they were separated by work. But clearly she can't extrapolate from this experience to us. Then again, she is, I assume, a Republican.

I'm going to see about starting a petition. Unfortunately, the one lobbying group that represents U.S. citizens whose spouses, etc., are stuck in the visa process, has run out of money -- it's www.americanfamiliesunited.org and they've done very good work on getting FBI to speed up name checks, having hired former congressman Bruce Morrison and a former Hill staffer for Barbara Jordan to lobby on our behalf. But rather than try to salvage this organization, maybe there's another way.

Please contact me if you have any ideas.

[Muhammad n Maryam 1]

I completely agree. I think we should get together a petition to Hillary Clinton, who is ultimately responsible for this stage of the visa process, or at least in a position to rattle some cages. As far as I know, the acting assistant secretary of state, and head of the Bureau of Consular Affairs is Janice Jacobs, a poorly educated Bush appointee -- the key part of her resume, as far as I'm concerned is the following:

From 1994 to 1995 she attended the National War College at Ft. McNair in Washington D.C., where she received a Master’s in National Security Strategy.

Interesting that she managed to take a paid leave of absence to be with HER husband when they were separated by work. But clearly she can't extrapolate from this experience to us. Then again, she is, I assume, a Republican.

I'm going to see about starting a petition. Unfortunately, the one lobbying group that represents U.S. citizens whose spouses, etc., are stuck in the visa process, has run out of money -- it's www.americanfamiliesunited.org and they've done very good work on getting FBI to speed up name checks, having hired former congressman Bruce Morrison and a former Hill staffer for Barbara Jordan to lobby on our behalf. But rather than try to salvage this organization, maybe there's another way.

Please contact me if you have any ideas.

Sorry, I don't have any ideas. My husband has been in AP for 10 months, and they won't tell us anything !

If you start a petition or if anyone comes up with anything, please do get in-touch with me, I'll do what ever I can !